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2 Sheets-Sheet (No Model.)

P. S. MGKENNYEY. HAND BUTTONvxATTAUHING IMPLEMENT. No. 599,00?-

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Patented Feb. 15, 1898.

[TWESSES (No Model.)

` 2 Sheets-Sheet 2. P. S. MOKENNEY.

HAND BUTTON ATTACHING IMPLEMENT. No. 599,0 0'7. l

Patented Feb. l5, 1898.

El TUD- n WITNESS/Es y *El j'. UWE/wvo@ J M MVMQMM/wej,

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE..

FRANKLIN S. MOKENNEY, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR TO THE MCKENNEYBUTTON FASTENING COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

HANDV BUTTON-ATTACHING IM PLEMENT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 599,007, dated February15, 1898.

Application filed July 1, 1896. Serial No. 597,696. (No model.)

To @ZZ whom t may concern,.-

Be it known that I, FRANKLIN S. MOKEN- NEY, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Detroit, county of Wayne, State of Michigan, haveinvented a certain new and useful Improvement in Universal HandButton-Attaching Implements; and I declare the following to be a full,clear, and. enactv description of the invention, such as will enableothers skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use thesame, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form apart of this specification.

My invention has for its object a universal hand button-attachingimplement of superior efficiency and utility; and it consists of theconstruction, combination, and arrangement of devices hereinafterdescribed and claimed, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, inwhich- Figure l is a side Aelevation showing the jaws of the implementin full lines in 'inoperative or open position and in dotted lines inclosed or operative position. Fig. 2 is a view partly in side elevationand partly in vertical section. Fig. 3 is a front end view of theimplement. Fig. 4 is a detail view of a button-holder. Fig. 5 isa detailview showing a modification in the construction of the button-holder.Fig. 6 is a sectional view on the line 6 6, Fig. 5. Fig. 7 is a detailview showing a modification in the construction of the guard. Fig. 8 isa front view illustrating the same. Fig. 9 is a detail view of the seatfor holding the fastening. Fig. 10 is an end view of said seat.

The aim of my present invention is to provide a button-attachingimplement adapted for setting a pronged fastening in engagementtherewith to set a buttonupon various articles of manufacture, as uponshoes and various articles of apparel, the same being adapted forsetting buttons of different kinds and of different sizes in a mosteffectual and satisfactory manner.

I carry out my invention as follows:

In the drawings, A and B represent two jaws, each provided with anoperating-handle and fulcrumed the one upon the other, as indicated atb. The jaw A is constructed with two arms A A2, the two arms togetherbeing,

essentially, of G-shaped structure. The jaw B is bifurcated at itsforward end to embrace the jaw A, the bifurcated portions beingindicated at b and b2. Through the arm A2 is sleeved a die-spindle C,made reciprocatory therein, the spindle carrying, preferably, aremovable die O.

D and D `are two spindles sleeved through the forward end of the arm A2and made reciprocatory therethrough, said spindles -carrying at theirlower ends a button-holding device. Said spindles are madeself-retracting in any suitable manner, as by means of a spring D2 uponone of said spindles. D3 is an operating thumb-piece surmounting saidspindles D D for depressing the button-holding device independently ofthe movement of the die-spindle.

B is a yoke connecting the bifurcated ends of the jaw B with the upperend of the diespindle, whereby said die-spindle is reciprocated by themovement of said jaw.

The button-holding device carried by the spindles D D' consists,essentially, as shown, of a hollow hub E, provided with an attaching-armE', by which the hub is connected to the said spindles in any suitablemanner. Through said hub passes a pin E2, provided with a tension-springE3 within said hub, the upper end of said pin engaging a cap E4, seatingon the hub, and the lower end of said pin engaging a thimble E5,supporting a buttonholding plate E6. The cap E4 and the adjacent end oflthe hub vhave a toothed or ratcheted engagement the one with the other,so that said capr may readily be lifted out of engagement with the huband held thereupon in any given position of adjustment. It will beobserved that the pin E2 with the cap E4 and the thimble E5 have alimited vertical movement in connection with the hub. By pressing upwardupon the said thimble or plate the cap E4 is disengaged from the hub,being lifted out of engagement therewith, permitting the button-holdingplate being adjusted laterally in any desired position, when, byreleasing the said thimble or plate, the spring E3 will force the capdown into engagement with the hub to secure the button-holding plate inany given position of adjustment. This plate is shown constructed with aseries IOO of recesses c, of` different sizes, for holding buttons ofvarious sizes where-the buttons are provided with holes therethrough oran attaching-bar.

In the form of the button-holding plate shown in Figs. 2, 3, and 4 saidplate is further provided with a contracted recess e for holding theshank or eye of a button-as, for example, the eye of a shoe-button. Theedge of this recess e' is countersunk to receive and support the eye andis formed with a stop, as at e2, to limit the entrance of the eye of thebutton and to center it under the die. The edge of the plate about saidrecess is also countersunk to the rear of the stop, as indicated at e3,to allow the die to be forced down upon the eye of the button, the stope2 being of the same height as the eye of the button when in place onthe button-holding plate. The countersunk portion forward of said stopis made of a width to form a frictional contact with the eye of thebutton to hold the button in place.

In the form of button-holding plate shown in Figs. 5 and 6 a recess e4is provided, the plate adjacent thereto and on each side thereof beingprovided with spring clamping-arms e5 and e, said clamping-arms clampingdown upon the eye of the button. At the edges of said recess e4 arepoints e7, turned upward to form stops to center the eye of the button.

It will be apparent that when a button is in place upon thebutton-holding plate the downward pressure of the die willsimultaneously force downward the button-holding plate, while saidbutton-holder may also be depressed independently of the movement of thedie,`as above described.

B2 is a retracting-spring to open the jaws.

The lower arm A of the jaw A carries a seat A3 for a -pronged fastener.This seat is preferably removable and may be connected withV the arm Ain any suitable manner, as by means of a set-screw F2. As indicated inFig. 9, moreover, the seat is made with multiple countersunk portions ffof different diameters to hold fastenings of different sizes. By simplyreleasing the device A3 it may be turned end to end, as may be required.The edges of this seat are beveled on the sides of said recesses, asindicated in Fig. 9 at f f2.

Gr G indicate spring clamping-arms constructed with beveled iianges g attheir upper ends to reach over the seat A3 to hold the head of thefastening in place upon the seat. These clampingarms are rearwardly eX-tended and engaged with the arm A' at their rear ends, as by screws G.

H I-I are spring guard-arms, the upper edges of which are turned inward,said arms serving to protect the prongs of the fastening and preventingtheir engaging a fabric in the engagement of the implement in place toset the button upon the fabric. These clamping-arms and guard-arms havea lateral movement away from the seat of the fastening, while theguard-arms are also vertically movable, as indicated in full and indotted lines, Fig. 3.

In the form shown in Figs. l, 2, and 3 the guard-arms are made of fiatpiecesof metal constructed with elongated recesses, (indicated at 7f3)the clamping-arms G Gbeing provided with guide-shoulders g2, enteringsaid elongated recesses, and upon which shoulders said guard-armsreciprocate. Said guardarms may be `connected at their lower ends, asindicated in Fig. 3, a spring h being provided to retract said arms andforce them into normal or lifted position.

In Figs. 7 and 8 the guard-arms are shown formed of wire bent into theform of a loop, the forward ends of the clamping-jaws being providedwith orifices, as indicated at g3, to receive the lower extremities ofthe loop and permit its reciprocation.

It will be evident that when the die is pressed toward the seat of thefastening to set the prongs of the fastening upon the button thebutton-holding plate coming into contact with the upper edges of theguard-arms will force said arms downward toward the seat of thefastening. The same movement of the button-holdin g plate coming intocontact with the clamping-arms will also spread the arms apart upon theadjacent beveled edges of the seat of the fastening, this movement ofthe guard-arms and the clampingearms allowing the die to set the prongsof the fastening and effecting the release of the fastener from the seatwhen the setting has been accomplished. The beveled port-ions of theseat are made deeper opposite the recess f of narrowest diameter, sothat the clamping-arms will clamp over the head of the fastener.

As above observed, by'simply changing the position of the button-holderand by changing the seat of the fastening, as well as by means of theinterchangeable die, fastenings of different sizes may readily be setupon diiferent kinds and sizes of buttons, all by the same implement.

To carry different sizes of dies and fastening-seats and any otherdesired implements, one of the handles of one of the jaws is constructedwith a closed chamber (indicated in Fig. 2 at Q) permanently closed atone end, as at its forward end, as by one of the fixed walls of thehandle, the chamber being provided with a swinging springactuated gateQ,which may be fulcrumed intermediate its ends, as shown at q, a springQ2 being engaged to the wall of the chamber Q, as indicated at q', saidspring engaging the adjacent end of the gate, as indicated at q2, toautomatically close the gate and hold itin closed position. The gate ispreferably constructed with a raised boss Q3. By pressing upon said bossit is evident that the opposite extremity of the gate will be opened torelease the contents of said chamber or to permit the insertion of anypart or tool thereinto.

The seat for the fastening, it is observed, is so centered upon theattaching-screw F2 IOO IIO

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that it maybe reversed end to end when it is desired to ychange the sameto employ the countersunk portion thereof at theu opposite end.-

This implement is designed and adapted for attaching all ordinarycommercial buttons engageable by a pronged fastening of variousthicknesses and sizes and upon all sorts of wearing-apparel and to otherarticles to which buttons are applied.

The button-holding plate may be robviously swung entirely out of theWay, if desired, permitting the implement to be used for variouspurposes other than a button-attaching implement, as for uniting strapsby means of a pronged fastening, attaching hooks and eyes, buckles, andother articles.

Although Ihave described my invention as a button-attaching implementmore particularly, I would have it understood that I contemplate its useas coming within the scope of my invention for any and all purposes t`owhich it may be found adapted.

It will be observed that the button-holding plate has an'automaticpositive stop to hold the plate in any given position of adjustment.When the operator has `moved the plate laterally toa desired point, hesimply'releases it, and it is automatically held by a positive stop atthat point. This automatic stop or locking device forms an importantfeature of my invention, and I contemplate this alitomatic positive stopor lock of the button-holding plate broadly as coming within the scopeof my invention. l

The spring clamping-arms e e6 may also be applied to a button-holdingplate of the form shown in Fig.4, as indicated in dotted lines in saidfigure. In Fig. 5 said arms are integral with the body of the plate andbent over into place.v In the form shown in Fig. 4 the spring clamping-arms are attached to the body of the plate in any suitable manner, asby a rivet es, the forward extremities of the arms being extended overthe slot e', said extremities occupying a position in front of thesetting-die and back of the button, the extremities being in position toproject over the shank of the button. These spring clamping-arms thusform a support against the back of the button to prevent the rocking ofthe button where they are made integral with the plate,

as indicated in Fig. 5, or attached thereto, as in Fig. 4.This'supporting feature of said clamping-arms will be fully recognizedby I reference to Fig. 6.

vplate to be forced down more closely upon the head of the fastening andmaterial to which the fastening is applied.

The stop is formed on the upper countersunk portion of the plate bymilling out the edges adjacent to the front portion of the slot orrecess to permit the end of the shank of the button to extend backwardto the center of the setting-dies. This position of the button-shankprovides for one prong of the fastening passing through the eye of thebutton and the oppositeprong to venter the die on the opposite side ofthe shank, the operation of the die convoluting the prongs about saidshank.

What I claim as my invention isg l. In a button-attaching implement, thecombination with two pivotally-connected jaws, of a seat for a prongedfastening, a reciprocatory spindle carried by one of said jaws, abutton-holding' plate, and an intervmediate support connecting saidplate with said spindle, said plate having a spring-actuated adjustmentupon said support, substanjaws, of a reciprocatory spindle carried byone of said jaws, a supporting-hub attached to said spindle, a caphaving a movable engagement with said hub, a'laterally-movablebutton-holding plate, and a spring-pin connecting said plate with saidcap, whereby the cap may be lifted out of engagement with the hub byupward pressure on the said plate to move the plate laterally,substantially as set forth. v

4.v In a button-attaching implement, the combination with twopivotallyconnected jaws, of a reciprocatory spindle carried by ione ofsaid jaws, a button-holding plate, a supporting-hub connected with thespindle, a cap having a toothed or ratcheted engagement with said hub, athimble, and a springpin connecting said cap with said thimble,substantially as andfor the purpose set forth.

5. In a button-attaching implement, the.

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combination with two vpivotally-connectedl jaws, of a seat for afastening carried by one of said jaws, clamping'springfarms adjacent jto said seat, and spring guard-arms having a vertically-movableconnection upon said clamping-arms, substantially as set forth.

6. In a button-attaching implement, the combinationv with twopivotallyconnected jaws, of spring clamping-arms carried by one of saidjaws, and spring guard-arms constructed with elongated slots having ayertically-movable engagement upon the clamping-arms, the clamping-armsprovided with guideshoulders entering said slots, substantially as setforth.

7. In a button-attaching implement, a jaw` pro vided with a chamberedoperating-handle, a gate Q', fulcrumed intermediate its ends to saidhandle, and a spring Q2 engaging one extremity of said gate,substantially as and in the manner set forth.

8. In abutton-attaching implement, a button-holding plate formed with arecess at one edge thereof, said plate provided with sprin gclamping-arms projecting over said recess, for the purpose set forth.

9. In a button-attaching implement, a button-holdin g plate formed witha recess at one edge thereof, the face of said plate being countersunkabout said recess and provided With a stop to limit the insertion of thebuttonshank and center the end of the shank, substantially as set forth.

lO. In abutton-attachin g implement, a button-holding plate formed witha recess at one edge thereof, the face of the plate about said recessbeing stamped down to form a countersunk portion on the upper face ofthe plate,

the countersunk portion on the upper face of the plate being milled outadjacent to the front portions of said recess to form a stop to centerthe shank of the button, substantially as set forth.

1l. In a button-attaching implement, the combination with two pivotallyconnected jaws, of a seat for a fastening, having its 1ateral edgesbeveled, spring clampingar1ns,and vertically-movable spring guard-arms,the upper ends of said clamping-arms and of said guard-arm s constructedwith inwardlyturned beveled flanges to contact With the beveled edges ofthe fastener-seat, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I sign this specification in the presence of twowitnesses.

FRANKLIN S. MCKENNEY. Witnesses:

N. S.v WRIGHT, JOHN F. MILLER.

